How to Prepare for a Healthy Summertime

Summertime is fast approaching and people are thinking of all the wonderful reasons to get out of the house and enjoy the warmer climate. No matter where you live in the world, chances are summer’s arrival strikes a chord of excitement in everyone. Finally, they can shed those heavy coats and walk about freely, basking in the warmth of the sunshine. It is a time when most people want to be carefree and liberated from the confines of their home.

Even if you’re not an outdoor person, having a nice outing can be very rewarding, however, those approaching warm, sunny days should also come with a warning label. You’ll enjoy your days more if you have given some forethought to what you need to do in order to protect your health. This fact is commented on in Health.com, “Even though you haven’t had summers off since you were in school, the sunshine and warm breeze can still set off that can’t-stay-indoors-another-second feeling. But before you race outside, make sure you’re ready for everything the season can throw at you.”

Right away, you’re probably thinking of sunscreen to protect you from sunburn, but there’s a lot more involved in preparing you for summer health than putting on sunscreen.

Watch Your Exercise

Yes, we all know that when springtime rolls around, it’s time to start trimming the fat. That way, there’s less chance of jelly belly or jiggling thighs when it’s your turn to take a stroll on the beach. Still, keep in mind that if you’re like most people, you’ve been relatively sedentary over the winter months. Jumping into a routine that is too intense could be the perfect recipe for injuries. It’s better to do a short mild workout and build up to more intense workouts over time. This way you won’t be putting shock on your body and you’ll see better results. Try to get your workout in on a regular basis. Waiting until the weekend could be just as bad. Try 10 minutes of exercise before going to work and another 10 afterwards and build up from there.

Learn Your Surroundings

It may seem strange to think that you may not know your surroundings but we’re not talking about streets and landmarks here. If you’re planning to go out and experience the natural environment, you need to know the flora of the surrounding area. Know how to identify which leaves may be harmful and cause severe breakouts. Poison Ivy, sumac, or even oak, don’t just appear in the forest, they can also show up right in your backyard. If you know how to identify them, you can avoid them and save yourself sometime away from the Calamine Lotion.” This point is discussed in the Best Health Magazine, “The sap of these plants can cause allergic skin reactions: itching, blisters, burning, redness and swelling. They can also affect the eyes and mouth. Avoid contact – learn what these botanical villains look like. If you touch one, wash the affected area with soap and water – this may prevent a reaction if done within an hour of contact.”

If you do come in contact and have a reaction, use an antihistamine ointment to relieve the itching. If it becomes too severe, you may need to seek medical attention, but all of that could be avoided by just learning what leaves to stay away from.

Insects

Just like you want to get out of hibernation, so do all the little creepy crawlers in your community. Most of these crawlies are just plain annoying but there are a few that can cause serious damage to your health; mosquitos, wasps, spiders, and tics are just a few examples. The bite or sting from these can cause at the very least severe itching and discomfort, others may be unfortunate enough to have allergic reactions that cause hives, joint pain, and fever. Those who get the worst of it may even contract some pretty severe diseases that can make your life miserable for years. To avoid contracting Lyme disease, malaria, or the West Nile virus, you need to be prepared to keep from getting bit in the first place. This may involve staying away from perfumes, covering exposed skin, and making frequent use of insect repellents.

Learning how to be proactive and take defensive steps from anything damaging your health in the summer time means learning to keep your eyes open. There are many reasons why people suffer during the summer months. It’s best to keep these basic precautions in mind, as BistroMD says, “Summer means a time for surfing, sand, barbeques, pool parties and the occasional getaway. Many of these plans are also an open invitation for you to get sick, especially if you are traveling our lounging outside.”

Take the next step and make sure that your summer fun actually stays fun and won’t lead to a more serious complication or even worse, a trip to the emergency room.